Automobile lock



May 1, 1928.

O. S. HERSHEY -AUTOMOBILE Loox Filed Jan. 21. 1926 r filleespecially forautomobiles, and'is designed Patented May 1, 1928.

. UNITED STATES PATENT o OIWILLE s. HnnsHnY, or CHICAGO, ILLIN11,668,147 FFlcEl.

y I oIs, AssIGNon To HERSHEY MANUFACTUB? ING COMPANY, or cnIoAGO,ILLINOIS, A OOnPORATION or COLORADO.

, 'AUTOMOBILE Loox.

Application' filed January This invention relates to a lock adapted moreparticularly for association with one of the operating units thereof. Itmay be connected with al steering mechanism, 'a change speed'mechanism,a motor ignition circuit, o-r any other unitfor system Whose operationis required inthe use of the Vehicle.

The embodiment of my invention herein shown and described includes aswitch which may be interposed inthemotorignition circuit. Such a switchis designed to be opened, thereby rendering the motor inoperative,whenever the lock is operated to interfere l with use of the associatedmechanism.

The Ypresent invention embodies certain improvedv features in theoperative connection between the lock and'switch by which movement ofthe latter is delayed until the former has' reached an effectiveposition from which it may not be displaced except by the use of a thesteering is disabled coincidentally with breaking ofthe associatedelectrical circuit. Alsoin the restoration of the parts to their normaloperative condition, the closing of this circuit is deferred until thevassociated lock is fully released from its interfering position. Myinvention is accordingly concerned with a' combined lock and switchhaving the characteristics noted, and with various other' Objects andpurposes 'which willV hereinafter appear.

In the drawing- Figure lis a sectional View through `a steering columnand associated lock,y showing the locking bolt 'as retracted Fig. 2f isa similar-view, with the locking bolt advanced'into interferingyposition relative to the -steering post;`

Fig. 3 is a View in elevation of a switch, adaptableto a three Wiresystem, and operableby a lock mechanism such, for example, as is showninFigs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail in section taken on line I 4-4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 which isa view similar to Fig. 3 shows the switch in openposition.

The present lock may be contained within a housing A through which isanopening for accommodating the column B Within which is extended a post Cconnecting a steering wheelwith the svviveled running wheels, usually atthe front of an automoproper key. By this means 21, 1.926. Serial N0.82,867.

bile.' Secured fast to the post is a collar D having therein a i may bebrought into register with an opening 6 `formed in the column. -Thelocking mechanism herein shown includes a bolt 7 adapted to b'eprojected through the opening into the socket 5 so as to lock thesteering post against rotation. This` bolt is asspciated yieldingly witha hollow plunger 8 wherein .is accommodated a coiled springt) whichtends to project the bolt ,into locking position. The forward movementof this bolt, relative to the plunger, may be arrested bya stop 10. Asecond spring 11 exerts an opposite force'on the plunger such as toretract the same whenever conditions Will per- By moving thehandle 12 to.shift the posi-Y tion of the eccentric relative to its axis ofmovement, the plunger may be' 'advanced against the tension" of thespring 11, so as to project the locking bolt 7 toward the steering postwherebyl 'to disable the same against movement, when the bolt end isen'- tered within the socket.

Retraction of the locking-bolt from its advanced position is controlledby a cylindei` lock 16 operable by a movable key, not shown. At the rearend of the cylinder is an eccentric lug 17 co-opnerating with a wirespring 18 which has connection with a detent in the-form of a p-in 19slidably'mounted in a ltransverse bore which intersects the passagewherein the plunger 8 is mounted. The inner endv of this pin is adaptedtoy be received Within a groove or socket 2O formed in the plunger Whenthe same has been moved inwardly to theposition of Fig. 2. With theparts thus related the locking boltis held in an 4inward or advancedposition from which it may notl be retracted without rst rotating thelock cylinder so as to release the pin 19 from .engagement with the'plunger. Immediately following the withdrawal of this pin, the\plungerandbolt are free to spring back to their normal or retracted positions,as shown in Fig. 1.

groove or socket 5 which switches are herein shown by `lating bushingWith any suitable lock structure, such, for example, as I have justdescribed, may be associated an approved switch adapted to open or closethe electrical circuit in which it is interposed. .Two suggestiver typesof way of exeming within the bushing are a pair of spring brushes' 22,each alike, but disposed opposited` the switch ly, as shown. Electricalconductors X an Y connect with the two brushes as lthrough the medium ofbolts 23 which 'pass through the bushing wall to engage singly with thebrushes whereby they'are held ixedly in place. The inner end of eachbrush may be curved to extend toward the other, and preterably iscrimped as at 24 so as to friet? onally engage, after the manner of adetent, with a conductor ring 25 which surrounds a second bushing 26mounted on the end of the plunger 8. Through this latter bushing isextended a stem 27 adjustably connected to the plunger, a stem head 28being so rc-` lated to theproximate end4 of the bushing 26 as to ermitthis latter part to slide longitudina ly thereupon' for a desireddistan-ce. The outer end 'of this bushing may be ta-v pered off', as at29, for a purpose which will presently appear.

In operation, the handle 12 is manipulated to advance the plunger andlocking bolt toward the steering post. vUntil this movement iscompleted, the; pin 19'is unable to advance into the groove 20 toprevent a return of the parts to their initial position.

W'ith advancement of thelocking bolt to effective position, however, thepin is snapped into the socket 20 whereby the parts are maintainedindefinitely in this new relationship. With commencement of the plungermovement, the stem 27 is also moved, but withoutinitially affecting theposition of the bushing 26.l The stem movement continues until its head28 abuts the roximate end of the bushing 26, following which this latterpart isl also moved to effect a displacement of the conductor ring frombetween the two brushes. The contact between theconductor ring and itsassociated brushes is broken approximately at the moment the.pin 19advances to hold the locking bolt in itsforward position. The brushescontinue to press, however, upon the outer tapered end of the'bushing insuch manner as to impart thereto a moving force which ushes it towardthe which 1t has been temporar y separated. The parts accordingly takeup the position shown in Fig. 2 wherein the steering post is disabled,and the switch is opened to break the associated electrical circuit, the

Y lunger :from ii spring elements to prevent accidental closing of thecircuit..

The movement relation of the switch to the lock involves a lag on. the.part of the switch suflicient to permit the locking bolt to reach itsintended position. A similar delayed operation on the part of the switchalso attends the reverse movementsof the locking bolt and plunger. Thisis due to the conductor ring remaining spaced from the two brushesl adistance substantially in the switch serving also.

equal to the return stroke of the locking bolt, whereby an electricalcircuit through is. reestablished only when the bolt has been withdrawnclear of the steering post.

applicable toone or two-wire electrical circuits. For a three-wirecircuit, suchl as is also employed with ignition systems, it may Theswitch just described is `such as is` tend through an insulated block 33and also through three contact plates 34, 35 and 36, which are fixedlymounted thereon. Two of these plates 34 and 35 areA alike, and may beheld' against movement by bending certain of their edgesto lie withingrooves 37 formed in the face of the block. The third plate 36 has oneend 39 bent laterally to rest upon one edge'of the insulating block,its-other end being Jformed to provide a spring tongue 40. This latterplate at no point touches either of the Atwo plates 34 and 35. Itstongue is arranged, however, to preserve sliding plate 41 having one end42 bent laterally and slotted to provideiingers which straddle a neck 43adjacent the stem head V28. By this means themovable plate is shifted inresponse to reciprocations of the locking bolt, but only afteradvancementl thereof a distance which is equal to the slip of the{ingersalong the stem neck 43. A delayed shift of the movable platerelative to that of the locking bolt is accordingly provided for.

In order that the movable plate may bc properly guided, its side edgesmay beinwardly flanged so as to lie within grooves 44 which are :formedin the face of the lill) Contact with amovable lla block. In all itsmoved positions, this plate l and A35 'so as to bridge the gaptherebetween,

thereby establishing a circuit between, all three wires connected to theswitch. In

to those of the locking bolt may be preciselyv the same as thatdescribed for the construcwithinfthe purview tion of Figs. l and 2, dueto .the provision ot' similar connecting means for its operation.

In the use .herein of the terms open and closed with reference'to themotor ignition circuit, I have in mind the system of ignition mostgenerally employed, but knowing that magneto equipped motors may beoper-l ated on yan vopen circuit, which is the rel verse of theprevailing kind,l would have these terms properly interpreted todescribe the true situation. The various details "of constructionhere'inbe'fore set forth are manifestly susceptible oi embodimentinforms other than' the precise ones shown, and any such modifications,

ofithe claims below', are to be considered as within the limits of myinvention.

I claim:

1.1 n a lock, the combination with an operating member, of abolt movableinto. engagement with said member to oppose operation thereof, a detentmovable toward the bolt consequent upon its advance to hold mg yonecomponent movable co-aXially 'with the bolt, and a slip connectionbetween `the bolt 'an' said switch component permitting free. relativemovement adapted to impart to the ment sutlicient to` produce alsubstantially coincidental operation of the detent and switchwhen'the-bolt is moved inone direction, substantially yas described.

2. In a lock, the combinationwith an operating member, of. a boltmovable into engagement with said member to oppose operation thereof,`a. switch having spring brushes located adjacent one l ductor meansmovable between the brushes for establishing a circuit therebetween, a-

mounting forsaidconductor means havin an inclined surface against which.the brushes may press to oppose movement thereof in one. direction andspeed movethe bolt whereby -movements of the former follow those of thelatter, substantially as described.

erating member, of a bolt gagement with said member to oppose operationthereof, a. switch in connection with in so far as they falll the4 sameagainst retraction,l a switch Jfor. opening and closing an .electriccircult havtherebetween and latter a lag movebolt end, con-l position,engages 'with opposite direction, and' a slip connection between saidmounting andl KAI."

3. ln a. lock, the combination with an operatingl member, of 'a boltmovable into engagement with said member to oppose op- `eration thereof,and a switch in connection with a three-wire circuit having a singlemoving component in slip connection with the bolt,'said componentmaintaining conu tact in all positions with the circuit of one wire, andlin one position with all three wires, substantially fas described.

fi. ln a lock, the combination with an opmovable into ena three-wirecircuit having a moving component in slip connection with the' bolt,means in connection with the wires of two of the circuits 'adapted -tobe engaged by the moving component when in one position3 andmeans'connected with the wire in the remaining circuit adapted to enga ethe Gir' moving component in all positions t' creci,l

substantially as described.

5. -n a lock, y erating member, ot a bolt movable into engagement withsaid member to oppose opveration thereof, a switch inl connection with athree-wire circuit having three terminals each of whichco'nnects towhich overlies the others 1n spacedy relation, and a plate connectedforv movement with the bolt andfin constant contact with. the overlyingplate,

said moving plate being adapted when in withv the remaining plateswhereby to con nect up all 'three-1 circuits, substantially asdescribed.

6. ln a lock, the combination with an operating'member, of abolt'movable into engagement with said member to oppose operationthereof, means associatedl with the bolt forming a movable component ofan electric sw1tch, an insulated mounting whereon said component isguidedl inits movements, three plates secured to isaid mounting, eachinsulated from the others and one in constant contact with said Inovablecomponent which, Awhen moved to one the other plates, substantially as'described.

7. In alcole-the combination with a movable bolt of an associatedelectric switch having one of itscomponents connected for movement withthe bolt, and three contacts engageable by said component when in oneposition, oneof said contacts being engaged 4thereby in all positionsthereof, substantially as described.

ORVILLE S. HERSHEY.

a plate, one ofone position-to Yengage also lthe combination with an opl

